# NTSB ANC83IA001: Piper PA-32-300, N4025W, Near Port Heide, AK, October 3, 1982

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: October 2, 1982, 22:00 local (Oct 3, 1982, 06:00 UTC)
- Place: Near Port Heide, AK
- Coordinates: 56.959308, -158.580718 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=56.9593&lon=-158.5807&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71916
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC83IA001
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71916/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC83IA001

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Nose gear collapsed, taxi - from landing
  - landing gear,steering system - disconnected (cause)
  - landing gear,nose gear assembly - worn (cause)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE WAS BACK TAXIING ALONG A BEACH AFTER LANDING AND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. ON EXAMINATION, THE PILOT FOUND THAT A BOLT IN THE NOSE GEAR STEERING MECHANISM HAD FAILED DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR. THIS ALLOWED THE NOSE GEAR TO OVER ROTATE IN THE TURN, PUTTING SEVERE SIDE LOADS ON THE GEAR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4025W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4025W), registered now, S/N 32-40039 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-40039
- Airframe hours: 2800
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 KIA5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Norman Ovitt
- Registered owner: Norman Ovitt
- Departed: PTH, PORT HEIDEN, AK
- Destination: PTH, PORT HEIDEN, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 16,337 total, 553 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 97 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19821002063949I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821002063949I), Oct 2, 1982: Piper PA32300, Port Heiden, AK, Minor damage. Collapsed nose gear, while taxiing on a beach.

## Other investigations on N4025W (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC07LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07LA038), May 19, 2007: Piper PA-32 (N4025W), Kenai, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The left main landing gear attaching bolts sheared during landing, which resulted in the left main landing gear collapsing and the left wing and the stabilator striking the ground.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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